Unit 4 Physical Patterns and Processes

How Landforms Are Created

Plate Tectonics

Large moving slabs of rock slide slowly over a layer of the mantle Plate Tectonics

The Theory of Continental Drift

Earth ~200 million years ago

Alfred Wegener’s Evidence: The presence of fossils only over small areas of now separate continents

3 Types of Plate Boundaries Divergence Convergence Transformal

DIVERGENCE

Divergence

Process where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge Sea-Floor Spreading

Has a major impact on countries that are close to it Examples: Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions Pacific Ring of Fire

What are Hotspot Volcanoes? Hot mantle breaches the surface in the middle of a tectonic plate The Hawaiian island chain are examples of hotspot volcanoes.

Hawaii was formed by volcanic activity

CONVERGENCE

Forms mountains, e.g. European Alps, Himalayas CONVERGENCE

Transformal

No mountains are created Transformal No mountains are created

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering Breakdown of rock at or near the earth’s surface 2 types of weathering Mechanical Chemical

Mechanical Weathering: no change in chemical composition--just disintegration into smaller pieces

Mechanical Weathering Types of Mechanical weathering Frost heaving and Frost wedging Plant roots

Frost Wedging

Frost Heaving

Plant Roots

Chemical Weathering: changes or alters as a result of chemical reactions CaCO3+CO2+H2O ---> Ca2+ + 2HCO3-

Chemical Weathering The agents of chemical weathering Water Acid Rain

Water

Acid Rain Compounds from burning coal, oil and gas react with water forming acids.

Acid rain has eaten away this limestone statue. 1908 1969 Acid rain has eaten away this limestone statue.

Erosion The movement of weathered materials by water, wind, or glaciers

Water Erosion forms the largest canyons and the deepest valleys Creates MOST of the changes in the Earth's landscape!

Wind Erosion Picks up small particles. Usually in areas of little water or little vegetation

Wind Erosion Greatest impact Creates sand dunes in deserts Removes fertile topsoil

Erosion by Glaciers that were formed over many years as ice and snow are compressed

Glaciers can create lakes as they melt

3 Things You See, 2 Questions, 1 Inference

Physical Geography LACEMOPS Factors that affect climate llhammon Spring 2012

Give me a “L” (latitude)

Your proximity to the equator affects climate.

Climate Zones

Give me an “A” (air masses)

Give me a “C” (continentality)

Give me an “E” (elevation)

Temperature decreases with elevation. 3.5 degrees with each 1,000 feet

<<< 105 >>> Mount Everest 29,028 feet <<< 105 >>>

Give me a “M” (mountain barriers)

Give me an “O” (ocean currents)

Your distance from oceans. Oceans regulate temperature.

Give me a “P” (pressure and wind belts)

Give me a “S” (storms)

What’s that Spell? Latitude Air Masses Continentality Elevation Mountain Barriers Ocean Currents Pressure and Wind Belts Storms What’s that Spell?

Climates and Climate Graphs

Weather: the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place

Climate: The usual pattern of weather in a particular place

Climate regions are determined by temperature and precipitation.

Climate Graphs

Inland – Northern Hemisphere Moscow, Russia 55 N, 37 E Inland – Northern Hemisphere Average Rainfall Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year mm 34.4 29.0 32.7 38.2 51.0 65.6 81.5 71.8 57.7 50.4 44.1 42.4 600.6 24-hr Average Temperature Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year °C -10 -9 -4.1 4.4 12.2 16.3 18.5 16.7 10.9 4.2 -2.0 -7.5 4.1

24-hr Average Temperature Sydney, Australia 34 S, 151 E Southern Hemisphere Average Rainfall Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year mm 103 111 131 129 123 102 80 69 82 81 78 1222.7 24-hr Average Temperature Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year °C 22.1 21.0 18.4 15.3 12.9 12.0 13.2 17.7 19.5 21.2 17.6

Coast – Northern Hemisphere San Francisco, USA 37 N, 122 W Coast – Northern Hemisphere Average Rainfall Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year mm 100.8 68.8 72.5 30.9 10.4 4.5 0.8 2.9 6.1 32.5 68.1 83.9 483.2 24-hr Average Temperature Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year °C 10.1 11.5 11.7 12.3 13.0 14.0 14.7 15.3 15.8 15.2 12.8 10.4 13.1

Get 2 different colored pencils and a piece of graph paper You will need your binder or notebook to take a few notes after we get started

Which one is in the Southern Hemisphere?

Brisbane, Australia Seasons OPPOSITE when we are used to them (Winter = June, July) Significant rainfall only in a few months

Which one is on the coast in the Northern Hemisphere?

Equator

Earth-Sun Relationships

Rotation causes day and night. Spinning of the Earth on its imaginary axis. 24 hours

The revolution of the Earth around the sun 365 ¼ days Seasons due to its tilt during revolution (23.5 degrees).

A - Summer in the Northern Hemisphere B - Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

Solstices Twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's is directly towards or away from the Sun Winter Solstice - December 21 - beginning of winter. Summer Solstice -June 21 - beginning of summer

Equinoxes Sunlight strikes the earth most directly at the equator. Spring Equinox - March 21 Fall Equinox - September 23

Affected by relative position of the sun and the Earth Climate Seasons Day and Night

Spheres and Layers of the Earth

Atmosphere The air above the Earth

Water in oceans lakes, seas, and etc. Hydrosphere Water in oceans lakes, seas, and etc.

Lithosphere Solid Earth

Plants, animals, and other living things Biosphere Plants, animals, and other living things

1. Tropical 2. Dry 3. Mild 4. Snowy 5. Polar Climate Regions 1. Tropical 2. Dry 3. Mild 4. Snowy 5. Polar

Biomes

Areas formed by plants and animals that have adapted to the environment Washington rain forest

Main Biomes Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Grassland / Savanna Desert Temperate Grassland Temperate Woodland Temperate Forest Northwestern Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest Tundra